Mahahual, Q.R. — President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced a decree to promote only ecotourism projects in Mahahual. She made the announcement Friday morning saying the decree will include surrounding communities.
“This area of Mahahual, where a large-scale tourism project was planned, the goal is to give it a protected status so that only ecotourism can be developed in conjunction with the local communities,” she stated.
Sheinbaum says the decree will be developed in a coordinated manner by Semarnat, Sectur, Fonatur and the Government of Quintana Roo.
She made the announcement on World Environment Day, explaining that work will be done in conjunction with communities to create a special decree to promote ecotourism in the Mahahual area.
The project will involve the Ministries of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), Tourism (Sectur), the National Fund for Tourism Development (Fonatur) and the Government of Quintana Roo.
“Today we are announcing that we will work with the community of southern Quintana Roo on a special decree for this area so that large-scale tourism is not developed, but rather ecotourism in conjunction with the communities,” she stated at the morning press conference.
Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Mexico’s Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, pointed out that the decree will respond to the vision of the communities by developing ecological tourism that combines economic development and employment with environmental protection, making Mahahual a benchmark of the Costa Maya.
She explained that the community has expressed its willingness to receive investments, but only those that generate local economic and social benefits for its hotels, restaurants, and small businesses.
In addition, Bárcena Ibarra also announced the Mexico Circular initiatives aimed at a new circular economy model that progressively replaces single-use plastics, revaluing waste as inputs and promoting recycling, particularly in beaches and tourist areas.
Sebastián Ramírez Mendoza, The head of Fonatur, indicated that work will be done on an instrument to ensure that large-scale tourism is limited in Mahahual and only ecotourism is developed.
The governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, said President Sheinbaum has the support of her administration to build a development model that generates well-being with social and environmental justice, that takes care of nature and ensures a better future for the next generations.
The creation of the decree is the result of a recent meeting held in Mahahual earlier this week between government authorities and residents of the local southern communities.
